292 Old Tappan Rd
  Old Tappan, NJ 07675
  201 263-9393
  Office Hours:
  M-F: 8:30 - 3:00
"The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but  

the first one, the period from birth to six.  For that is the time when man's

intelligence itself, his greatest implement is being formed." -    

                                                                                  Maria  Montessori                                                                
During the last century, Montessori education has been addressing the academic, social,
and emotional needs of children in over 4,000 schools in the United States and more
than 80 countries worldwide.  How can one method succeed in so many cultures and 
environments?

Maria Montessori and the Montessori Method
Maria Montessori's groundbreaking theories are a culmination of her life-long study and 
observation of children's development and learning.  New research in learning and brain
development confirms what Montessori could only observe one hundred years ago:
·  Children have an innate desire to learn, and
·  Children between the ages 0 - 6 years learn
    differently than any other time in their life.

Montessori referred to this as the "absorbent mind." During these years, there are multiple 
sensitive periods in which the mind is more receptive, making it easier for the young child 
to acquire certain skills and concepts.  She believed children could learn reading and 
writing as naturally as they leaned to speak and to walk.  For example, we now recognize
it is easier for a person to learn languages between ages 0-6 than any other time in her life.
Therefore, it is important at this critical stage of development to surround children with 
experiences and materials that will enhance their development.  Montessori created a 
method and materials that correspond to these sensitive periods.  Her innovative ideas led
to changes now widely accepted and used in all types of schools, which include child-
sized furniture, cooperative learning, mixed-aged classrooms, and educational materials.

Montessori Materials

Our classrooms are full of beautiful, engaging
materials specifically designed for this special
age.  Each material introduces one abstract
idea and through the children's concrete 
experiences, they are able to understand
and internalize this concept.  For example, the red rods are ten rods that vary from 10 cm.
to 1 meter and introduce the abstract concept of length.  As a child brings the rods to his 
rug, he is required to stretch his arms wider and wider thus providing a physical, concrete
experience that reinforces the abstract concept of length.  The initial lesson is sorting the
rods from shortest to longest; if there is one rod out of place, it is easy for the child to see
and correct.  This self-correcting feature is inherent in all Montessori materials and makes
it possible for the child to explore without adult intervention.  In later lessons, we add the
the associated vocabulary (short, shortest, long, etc) to help the child describe the
different relationships among the rods.  Because he now understands 'length', he can   
experiment creating beautiful patterns, mazes, or even a pyramid.  This work is even 
more fun with friends as they negotiate 
designs, judging balance and form.  This is 
true learning through play, and it is dynamic
and exciting, self-motivated and internalized.
We provide similar experiences in    
   
language, geography, art, natural science, and math.

Teachers
Our teachers are facilitators, emphasizing the process of learning rather than the product.
Great care is taken to prepare an environment that introduces the children to new 
experiences and develops new skills in a warm, supportive community.  We observe
each child's learning style, developing and introducing new lessons and materials when
she is ready.  We lead them to, but never take away their moment of discovery.  Experts 
in learning, including Howard Gardner and Mel Levine, are calling for the individualization
of teaching to recognize each child's strengths and learning differences.  In our classes
this is a given!  Our children become true active learners, are self-confident and
self-motivated.